Andorian
From Memory-Zeta
Categories: Cultures | Federation Cultures
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Description: Humanoid/Insectoid, Bipedal
Size: Medium
Hair: White/Gray
Skin Pigment: Light Blue
Native Planet: Andor (Native Name: Fesoan)
Quadrant: Beta
[edit] Distinguishing Features
Andorians have the very peculiar distinction of being the only known humanoid species that have active antennae (two) growing from the top of their heads. (See Biology subsection)
[edit] Background
The history of this race was once a violent one, based on war and conquest. At the very beginnings of the Andorian Cooperative lifestyle was the Bond of the Words Unspoken, or the Khun-Haga, in which an individual pledged trust and service to the Tyk, in return for which the Tyk pledged the same to the individual.
The Andorians understood that making this covenant a deep and binding extension of their thoughts and lives was the only thing that kept their fragile tribes safe and together, and being a stoic people, made it a point of honor to never speak to one another about the bond. No thanks were ever given for supporting the Tyk, and no explanations were ever offered to outsiders about the specific nature of the Tyk's unspoken bond. The only thing that was recognized by all was that the Khun-Haga was a force in Andorian life more powerful than the spectacular desert lightning, and herder to break than the rare and powerful bellium weapons forged by the first Delvers.
They had a long-standing rivalry with the Vulcans before the Federation was founded. Since then relations have become more friendly, though occasional conflicts in belief arise.
[edit] Biology
They have characteristics of both mammals and insects. Like mammals, they are warm-blooded, bear their young live, and have an internal skeletal structure to which their muscles attach. Like insects, they have antennae which provides better sensory input to vision and hearing. They are all ambidextrous.
The antennae have very good color receptors in them, and also hold additional sound receptors. Their mechanisms for color vision and hearing are so good, they give Andorians the advantages of night-vision and ultrasonic hearing. If one antenna is destroyed, the Andorian can still "see" but at a loss of what was before. If both stalks are destroyed, the Andorian's senses becomes similar to humans.
[edit] Sociopolitical Environment
[edit] Culture
Andorian culture is founded on the belief of a "Cooperative". Currently a "Cooperative" is a group of 60 to 100 families who have banded together to pool their resources and abilities to provide for the whole of their number. Cooperatives tend to grow around single lines of endeavor or related centers.
As a young Andorian reaches his age of majority, he can either choose to remain with his own cooperative or seek to join another cooperative and establish a family line there. Some Andorians spend their early years alone, wandering from one city cluster to another, unable to decide on a Cooperative venture. These "wayfarers" are unpopular within normal Andorian society and often tend to be attracted to anti-social Cooperatives, roving bands of ruffians and malcontents who roam the countryside.
Andorian culture is divided into the "Coastal and the "Inland races. Those who live in coastal cities constitute about 60% of the total population, and have been the centers of technological development. The inland plains are home to semi-nomadic inland Cooperatives, who even today remain devoted to their ancient heritage. These cultural groups have minimal contact at this point, with increasing disdain on both sides.
[edit] Politics
Andorian society is an "empire" divided into cooperative governments based on areas around major cities. Before four hundred years ago, the largest social structures were these multi-cooperative walled cities that dot the southern and western coasts of Andor's more temperate continent. It has only been in the last several centuries that the notion of a government has been developed.
Recently a new faith called 'innerism' has emerged. Beginning with Raikius, they believe a person should forget the false concept of warlike virtues, should leave old ways of living and should search a new "land to conquest" inside the self. Raikius is similar to the Vulcan Surak and his teachings are essentially similar, but while Surak believed in logic, Raikius feels logic to be false with respect to the complexity of real life.
[edit] Characterization
Andorians will fight if challenged, or even challenge a foe themselves if they feel it to be necessary, they will never quarrel without a good reason. Also, they tend to remain quiet and listen to discussions until there is something with meaning to say. They are not usually very boisterous.
Andorians characterize themselves as a violent race at one time, but members of this race make excellent scientists and are extremely dedicated. Many choose to specialize in botanic, social sciences, communications, navigation, and in side areas or theoretical physics, such the study of currents in space (places in deep space where heavy atoms are relatively common).
Andorians are extremely disciplined, possessing a strong sense of duty and personal honor, and so they make excellent military officers. They are fond of technology, but they insist on its use with respect for nature. For this reason, their early wars of conquest were fought with a regard for planetary environment, and so the Andorians avoided much of the ecological devastation suffered by Terrans and many other cultures.
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